Protecting documents, newspapers, and the like



Feb. 20, 1934. J. BROADMAN 1,947,516

PROTECTING DOCUMENTS, NEWSPAPERS, AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 18, 1932 PROTECTIVE COAT] TRANSPARENT PAPER ESIVE NEWSPAPER PROTECTIVE COATING TRANSPARENT PAPER ADHES WE ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTING DOCUMENTS, NEWSPAPERS, AND THE LIKE My invention relates to a new and improved method of protecting documents, newspapers, and the. like, and to a new and improved protected document, newspaper and the like.

One of the objects of 'my invention is to protect newspaper clippings and the like so that the paper will be substantially immune to the efiect of age, air, moisture, handling and the like.

Another object of my invention is to protect newspapers and the like so that a clipping is strengthened and it is also provided with a protective coating which prevents deterioration by age, moisture, air, and other causes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient method for protecting a.

newspaper or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of protecting a newspaper or the like so that the printed matter on the newspaper will not be affected, and it will be possible to clearly read said printed matter. Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it

being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended to generally explain the same, without limiting it in any manner. T

For many years it has been well known that newspapers, which are ordinarily printed on wood pulp paper, rapidly deteriorate with age,

especially if the newspapers are handled. Forthis reason it has been very difiicult to preserve newspaper clippings and no practical method has hitherto been devised for efliciently and properly protecting newspaper clippings. It has been suggested to print special editions of newspapers on rag paper, in order to preserve the same, but this paper is fragile and very expensive. 4 According. to my invention, a document, such as a newspaper or the like, is greatly strengthened without covering the newspaper in such. manner as to make it diflicult to readthe same, and the newspaper is also sealed by means of a coating which is impermeable to air, moisture, and the like, so'that the' clipping can be handled and preserved indefinitely.

As shown in the annexed diagrammatical drawing, the sheet-of newspaper has amxed to each face thereof a thin sheet of transparent or translucent paper.

While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular type of light-permeable paper, I prefer to use the type of paper which is referred to in the trade as Glassine. This Glassine paper is manufactured from sulphite pulp made from spruce wood, and the transparency isv obtained by thoroughly hydrating the stock in the beaters. The glossy finish of the paper is obtained by running the paper between aseries of pairs of rollers with the use of pressure and friction, similar to the ironing in a laundry.

This paper contains no wax, oil, or other coating material, as the transparency is secured without the use of any foreign material. If desired, this Glassine paper may contain sizing and an alum, and it may also contain a suitable tinting material.

The thin sheets of light-permeable paper are connected to the intermediate sheet of newspaper by means of any suitable adhesive. This adhesive is preferably a paste which is made '-'by intermixing cold water with wheat flour. Any suitable adhesive could be employed, including adhesives which are soluble in water, and adhesives which are water-resistant. A thin film of this adhesive may be applied to the transparent paper or to the sheet of newspaper, and suitable pressure, such as rolling -or rubbing pressure, is applied so as to cause the sheet of newspaper and the sheets of transparent paper to dry and adhere to each other without any wrinkles or irregularities. The three connected sheets of paper are then allowed 'to dry,- the drying operation being conducted preferably at an ordinary room temperature of-about 70 F. The sheets of transparent paper increase the strength and tearing resistance of the sheet of newspaper. so that it can be freely handled without .crumbling or tearing.

However, I have discovered that the mere affixing of the sheets of transparent paper will not protect the newspaper clippings or the like from the influence of air, age, and moisture. I therefore provide a protective coating on both of the outer faces of the sheets of light-permeable paper, and'this protective coating also preferably extends around the edges of the newspaper clipping or the like. This hermetically seals the paperto be protected.

It is to be understood that the invention not only applies to newspaper clippings but to the preservation of books, and other printed documents, or the like. i d

While I do not wish to limit myself to any specific composition for the protective coating, I prefer to use a composition which consists of a mixture of 25 parts of Manila gum or Manila copal, and '15 partsof ethyl alcohol; These proportions are by weight so that 25% by weight of the composition consists of the Manila gum. The solution of the Manila gum inthe ethyl alcohol has the consistency of a thin cream. Instead of using Manila gum, I can use a solution of .East India gum in alcohol, or a solution of Pontianac gum in alcohol, said gums being dissolved. in ethyl alcohol, in the proportions previously mentioned. v

The coating is applied by means of a rigid pad or spreading tool or perforated roller hav-- ing' an outer covering of cloth or the like, so that a smooth and light-permeable coating is formed. The alcohol dries quickly.

Experience has shown that numerous coating materials penetrate the transparent. paper and that such coating materials affect the ink, so that the ink is dissolved and the printed impression is blurred.

The improved coating compositions above described have sufiicient body or viscosity and the alcohol evaporates with sufiicient rapidity so that the protective material forms a protective coating around the clipping and the sheets of light-permeable paper. This protective coating preferably extends around the edges of the clip-v pings and of the sheets of transparent paper so as to completely and hermetically seal the clipping. The protected clipping can be immersed in water for a long time without being affected by the moisture. If ethyl alcohol (which may be. suitably denatured) is used as the 'solvent for the protective material, the alcohol does not pass through the transparent paper. Hence,

the alcohol does not attack the printing ink. "i-The use of alcohol is likewise advantageousfb'eink .undernormal conditions.

is extremely flexible and adherent and light-percause alcohol will not rapidly attack the printing The film of gum meable and it'has a very slight gloss, so that said film of gum does not reflect the light too much. While the protective film of gum appears to be smooth to the naked eye, examination thereof with a magnifying glass shows that said film of gum has a slight grain or surface irregularity,- which diminishes the gloss thereof. The use of the Manila gum improves the ease with which the printed matter can be read. The coating material can be applied by hand or by the use of a very simple machine and the application of said improved coating material does not require the use of heat or pressure, and the application of said coating material is not dependent upon. the humidityof the atmosphere. The special Glassine light-permeable paper which I impermeable to air, but it is rendered impermeable to air by the application of the protective material. I

' While I have stated 'a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the above mentioned details.

For example, the transparent paper could be of the type which is made by applying a solution of Canada balsam in turpentine oil to ordinary paper. Likewise, any suitable tracing paper or tracing which has been rendered transparent by the use of oils and waxes could be utilized.

The transparent coating may be made by dissolving copal and camphor inoil of turpentine. Numerous transparent lacquers which contain various cellulose compounds, such as cellulose acetate, nitro-cellulose, celluloid,,etc. may be utilized. A number of such transparent coating materials are set forth for example on page 2616 of Wordens Technology of Cellulose Esters.

One of the essential features is to apply a thin film of coating material which is dissolved in a solvent which rapidly evaporates, so that the solvent does not pass through the transparent paper,

and attack'the printing ink, since the ordinary commercial solvents which are used in lacquers and varnishes attack the printing ink. Likewise, the varnish or lacquer should not contain an excess of solvent and for this purpose a minimum amount of solvent can be employed, much less in .proportion than in the examplewhich has been specifically given. Likewise, while the transparent paper should be thin, it should be thick enough to prevent the penetration of the solvent of the varnish or lacquer, through said transparent paper, under working conditions. Likewise, the solvent evaporates very rapidly so as to prevent said penetration and the paper is penetrated very slowly.- Hence the solvent evaporates before it can penetrate through the transparent paper.

A ream of sheets, of said transparent paper, 24 by 36", has a weight of twenty to twenty-five pounds.

Wherever I have referred to a newspaper clipping, it is to be understood that I include books and the like.

awhile I prefer to protect both sides of the sheet of printed paper, and to apply the protective coating to both, protective sheets of transparent paper, I do not wish to belimited tothis complete combination. In some cases, it maybe suflicient to apply only a single sheet of transparent'coated paper to the printed face of the paper which is to be' protected, if only one face of the paper is written or printedupon. When I refer to a sheet of'printed paper, I wish to include a sheet 01' paper which may have been written upon, or which may have been marked with the use of a typewriter, etc.

Likewise, I do not wish to be limited to the sequence of operations which have been mentioned herein, because the protective coating of varnish may be first applied to the transparent paper, the solvent allowed to evaporate, and the coated sheet of paper may then be connected to the sheet. of paper which is to be protected. The coating can then be applied to the edges, either by applying the preparation, or spreading. In

such case, it is preferable to apply the protective be allowed to dry. Any suitable gum adhesive" It would then could be utilized for this purpose. be merely necessary for the user-to moisten the film of adhesive, and connect the transparent and coated paper to the sheet of printed paper.

However, I prefer to use an' adhesive of the type specified, which can be applied to the coated transparent paper.

The transparent paper may be treated on both sides with the protective material, and it may be saturated as much as possible with said protective material. The solvent can then be allowed to evaporate, and the protective paper can then be 7 of adhesive which is caused to enter and to penetrate only the inner part of the additional sheet. and then directly coating the exterior surface of each said additional sheet with a layer of lightpermeable protective material which is caused to enter said additional sheet and to pence trate only the outer part of said sheet. said layer of protective material being flexible and non peeling and having a resin base.

2. A method of protecting a flexible sheet of printed paper, which consists in connecting an additional flexible sheet of light-permeable ma terial to each side of said sheet of printed paper. each said additional sheet being connected to the printed sheet by means of an intermediate layer of water+miscible adhesive which is caused to enter and to penetrate only the inner part of the additional sheet, and then directly coating the exterior surface of each said additional sheet with a layer of light-permeable protective material which is caused to enter said additional sheet and to penetrate only the outer part of said sheet. said layer of protective material being flexible and non-peeling and having a resin base.

3. A method of protecting a sheet of printed paper, which consists in connecting additional flexible sheets of light-permeable ma erial .to both sides of said sheet of printed paper by means of a water-miscible adhesive which is permitted to enter only the inner part of each sheet of light-permeable material, allowing said adhesive to dry, and then directly coating said sheets of light-permeable material with a solution of protective and light-permeable material, which is caused to penetrate said additional sheets. while causing the solvent in said solution of protective material to evaporate before it has penetrated to the ink on said printed paper, said layer ofprotective material being flexible and non-peeling and having a resin base.

4. A method 'of protecting-a sheet of printed paper, which consists in connecting additional flexible sheets of light-permeable material to. both sides of said sheet of printed paper by means of a water-miscible adhesive which is permitted to enter only the inner portion of each. sheet of light-permeable material, allowing said adhesive,

to dry, and than directly coating said sheets of light-permeable material with a protective material which consists substantially of a solution of a resin in alcohol which is caused to penetrate said additional sheets, while causing the alcohol to evaporate before it penetrates to the ink on said printed paper, said coating having a resin base.

5. A method of protecting a sheet of printed paper, which consists in connecting additional flexible sheets of light-permeable material to both sides of said sheet of printed paper by means of a water-miscible adhesive which is permitted to enter and to penetrate only the inner portion of each sheet of light-permeable material, allow ing said adhesive to dry, and then directly coating said sheets of light-permeable paper with a protective material which consists substantially of a solution of Manila gum in alcohol, said solu-' tion being caused to penetrate said additional sheets.

6. A sheet of printed paper havingv over its printed matter to be protected, a protective sheet of light-permeable material connected to said printed paper by means of an intermediate layer of adhesive, said adhesive having entered and being confined in said light-permeable paper to that portion thereof which is adjacent the printed-paper, the outer surface of the light-permeable paper having a thin and flexible and lightpermeable coating of material which has penetrated the outer surface of said sheet of ligh permeable paper, said protective sheet and its coating having high flexibility so that the printed paper and its protective sheet has the flexibility of a sheet of paper.

"7. A sheet of printed paper having over its printed matter to be protected, a protective sheet of light-permeable material connected to saidprinted paper, by means of an intermediate layer of adhesive, said adhesive having entered and being confined in said light-permeable material to that portion thereof which is adjacent the printed paper, the outer surface of the lightpermeable paper having a thin and flexible and 120 light-permeable coating of material which has penetrated the outer surface of said sheet of lightpermeable paper, said surface protective coating consisting substantially of a resin.

8. A sheet of printed paper having over its printed matter to be protected; a protective sheet of light-permeable material connected to said printed paper by means of an intermediate layer of adhesive, saidadhesive being confined in said light-permeable material to that portion thereof a which is adjacent the printed paper, the outer surface of the light-permeable paper having a thin and flexible coating of material which i has penetrated the outer surface of said sheet of light-permeable material. said surface protec- 11;:

tive coating consisting substantially of Manila gum. JOSEPH BBOADMAN. 

